FAQ’s

WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Getting Ready:

Some of the best photos of your special day are before the actual ceremony; anticipation and excitement are in the air! So when planning the timing, and lighting, for the ceremony make sure you leave plenty of time for getting ready. Hair and makeup for the bridal party can be a lengthy process depending on the size of your bridal party, whether you choose up do’s ,  how detailed you want your bridal party makeup, and of course, wardrobe. Also we highly recommend having someone in charge of keeping the bridal and groom suites clean and organized when getting ready: this makes for much prettier shots when getting ready! Although the wedding day is focused primarily on the bride do not forget the groom! The groom and groomsmen do not require as much time to get ready, but set aside plenty of time to get pre-wedding photos of the groom with his groomsmen as well.

The Ceremony:

When planning a destination beach wedding our number one photography tip is choosing the time of your ceremony.  Most couples in Playa del Carmen, and the Rivera Maya, choose late afternoon ceremonies to take advantage of the amazing light and avoid midday as it becomes very hot and is the most crowded time of day on the beach. We suggest starting the ceremony at least one to one and a half hours before sunset.   This will allow plenty of time to photograph your family and friends, the wedding party and finally the “Newly-Weds” in optimum light.  Keep in mind that the time of year and the size of your wedding party must also be taken into consideration when finalizing details of the pre and post ceremony photography.

CARIBBEAN CLIMATE for “Picking The Date”:

Setting the date for your destination wedding should be chosen carefully.  High season and low season prices, as well as weather, can determine which date may work best for your wedding celebration.  High season starts in the middle of December and runs through Easter, and high season also parallels ideal Caribbean weather.  Low season starts after Easter and runs through November, and this is also when tropical storms and hurricanes can come to visit our beautiful coastline. Weather can be hard to determine, and can change day to day; a brief afternoon downpour can also turn into a tropical storm. That being said the time of year should be considered when finalizing your date.
High Season: Mid-December through Easter
From December into mid/late February is our winter season.  The climate is much cooler as are the water temperatures.  Shawls, light sweaters and jackets are recommended, especially at night.  Playa Del Carmen is in the Central Time Zone so the sun sets very early.  We recommend an earlier time for your beach ceremony so we can utilize the wonderful afternoon light.
The Caribbean starts to heat up again in March.  The afternoon light is gorgeous and lasts into the early evening.  We recommend facial blotters for the girls and handkerchiefs for the guys.  In April we have one of the largest national holiday celebrations; Easter or Semana Santa.  It is a two week celebration that surrounds Easter Sunday.  Children are out of school and local tourism is at its peak.  The Riviera Maya is also becoming a new hot spot for spring breakers so keep this in mind when choosing your date.  In May tourism slows down and the weather heats up.

Low Season: May – November (in the beginning of December the weather starts to clear and tourism begins; you may find high season pricing at this time as well).
While low season can bring rainy weather and high humidity we can also go for weeks without rain and with brilliant sunny days and flat Caribbean blue waters.  We do, however, recommend that you have an alternate location and plan in case of undesirable weather conditions.

Please take a look at our Wedding Ideas for tips to make you and your bridal party arecomfortable in any climate.